Caught #TheOdyssey down at Brentford Everyman yesterday. As a kid, my favourite films were the ones that brought Greek mythology to life. Jason and the Argonauts, the original Clash of the Titans. No film has ever recaptured that magic, until now. An absolute masterpiece.

Down at Heston Community Garden with Navdeep Deol of the National Park City Foundation, which began its work in Hounslow and has now gone international. The work they and Heston Action Group have done, turning wasteland into an educational garden supplying food banks, inspires me.

A few words on our plans for building a greener future for Hounslow, over at the Hounslow Herald.

This is why it's so important to teach children, from a young age, and their parents, to cook healthy, nutritious meals with affordable fresh ingredients. And it's why we brought Jamie Oliver's team to Hounslow, where already nearly 300 young kids and parents have learned scratch cooking.

When there are people rich enough to collect T-Rex skeletons for fun (and deprive museums), it's probably time for a wealth tax so that money can do something more productive for society.

I completely agree with this. Hounslow was the first borough in West London, and one of the first in the country, to introduce a Right to Grow. I would encourage all other councils to let people plant on unloved land.

When I was a kid I wanted to be a paleontologist because of #SamNeill 's Alan Grant. That didn't work out. But the moment he removes his sunglasses to see the brachiosaurus on the bank will always be among the most iconic moments in cinema. And he was iconic in everything he did. RIP Sam Neill.

Lovely day for it at the Inwood Park Summer Party, with Cllr Karen Smith, as we bid a happy and well deserved retirement to Greenspace static gardner Simon, whose work has truly been treasured by the community. Thank you to Jean and the Friends for organising.

Cutting foreign aid was one of the worst things Starmer did, and it is costing lives around the world. It's an issue I've lobbied MPs on and I'm glad to see many are taking it up with the incoming Prime Minister.

My first ever ride in an autonomous vehicle. These lightweight, electric, self driving pods from Ohmio travel 16 mph, carry eight people, and are designed as an accessible way to connect people and places that are cut off from regular transport.

Andy Burnham is right to apologise for Labour's stance on #Gaza. The government must now do what the UN has done, recognise genocide, and act accordingly with sanctions and an end to arms sales to Israel.

Could Nigel Farage’s political career be destroyed by a man in a bin? I was Binface-sceptic - now I’ve got the zealotry of the convert. Clacton needs to be flooded with door knockers. If all the people who oppose Farage vote for Count Binface, then he would win.

Lovely piece in The Chiswick Calendar after my debut #mystery #thriller Freebourne became a finalist for the International Book Awards 2026. #booksky #authorsky

Not the hero Britain needs, but the one it deserves. @countbinface.bsky.social

Game on, Nige.

Rightly, all the other parties are boycotting #Farage 's farce. Help us @countbinface.bsky.social, you're our only hope.

Ok, people of Clacton. Do it.

It shouldn't take that long to say bye.

Everyone wins. This feels like a no brainer.

"Freebourne is a gripping mystery with inventive sci-fi overtones and deep philosophic explorations into the meaning of freedom in an increasingly AI world. The novel’s astonishing conclusion turns the entire story on its head and leaves the reader gasping." - Los Angeles Book Review

Unveiling the beautiful new Emanuel Hollow at Dukes Meadows yesterday. Transforming mud and scrub into a new welcoming gateway to our borough at Barnes Bridge. Cut the speech short and got back just in time for football and a few pints at the Globe.

News of Freebourne becoming a finalist for the International Book Awards 2026 has reached my old hometown. Shout out to @becclesbooksltd.bsky.social who are stocking signed copies.

From hells heart, I make one last ill conceived decision that needlessly angers almost everyone at thee.

North Sea drilling is not the answer. If we want to back jobs and bring down bills, without literally costing us the Earth, the country needs to double down on its burgeoning renewable energy sector.

Fastest growth in the G7, alongside falling living standards. Those two statistics today underscore the challenge for #AndyBurnham. And the chance to genuinely do things differently. A strong speech yesterday that succeeded in injecting much needed hope. Now we need to see change.

My weekend. Rowing in the Brentford Pubs Regatta for ANIMA, one of my favourite bars in the borough. A crack team of hippy superheroes. We believe in peace, love, and kicking ass. We lost the race. But were definitely the best dressed boat.

I spoke to Asian Voice about where it all went wrong for Keir Starmer, the challenges ahead for Andy Burnham and why he has the right tools to turn things around if he avoids making the same mistake Starmer did of chasing after Reform and ignoring progressive voters.

BOAT RACE CREW ANNOUNCEMENT! Excited to be joining the crew of ANIMA for the Brentford Pubs Gig Regatta this Saturday. Training this week, I picked up an oar for the first time in 20 years. Are we ready? We were born ready.

I welcome Keir Starmer's resignation today. For all the good this government has done, inc workers' and renters' rights, he has to own the bad as well, from Gaza to winter fuel allowance, PIP and island of strangers. Andy Burnham must now offer real change and give people a reason to hope again.

I’m over the moon to see Freebourne become a finalist for the International Book Awards 2026. All those hours writing it, fully dispensing of the midnight oil by 4am, this recognition makes it all worth it. I suppose I’d best write the next one! www.internationalbookawards.com/2026awardann...

#AndyBurnham 's resounding victory in #Makerfield shows there is a way to unite progressives and defeat Reform with the right leadership and an offer of hope to those left behind by decades of neoliberalism. Starmer should recognise that he is not the man to do so step aside for country and party.

The last chance to stop Farage starts today. Let's have a bit of hope again.

In The Standard today, calling on Thames Water to be brought into public ownership to end the scandal of sewage dumping in our river. Over to you Andy Burnham.

The government needs to treat the routine dumping of sewage by water companies into our rivers as a national emergency and act accordingly. A private company run for private profit isn't equipped to do that. They must be renationalised. I spoke to My London about the situation at Mogden.

Behind me, until today, were the locked gates that once prevented the public from accessing this beautiful corner of Boston Manor Park. Today, the gates have come down. We are opening Clitherow’s Island up once more and giving it back to the people of our borough.

Following the fire on one of the low rise blocks on Ivybridge, which left many people worried about what happens next, I have been working round the clock with officers to make sure everyone is supported. We have confirmed the following:

Daisies and bass. A beautiful new wildflower meadow in Boston Manor Park funded by Junction 2 who are always keen to give back. Junction 2 helps put Brentford on the map, and draws crowds from across London and beyond and boosts local businesses, but it also supports our local park and environment.

SHOCK! DAILY MAIL DOESN'T BACK FASCISTS!

Wonderful time at Slaughter in Southwold, talking about politics, the dangers of AI, where we are heading as a society, literary influences, and, or course, murder and mystery. Thanks to Charlotte Clarke for organising and Lee Mason of Beccles Books who flogged a good stack of them for me to sign.

Back in beautiful Southwold for the first time in almost a decade. On the morning run (not in short shorts, don't worry), had to deprogramme myself from London mode and remember to say hello to everyone I passed.

Excited to be heading back to my old ends for Slaughter in Southwold this weekend. Get your ticket here: southwoldartscentre.co.uk/SouthwoldArt...

Reform are right. Britain has been broken. By decades of austerity and Thatcherite neoliberalism that have made the rich richer and the poor poorer. They would only continue that ruinous project that has so fragmented the fabric of our society. We must genuinely tackle economic inequality head on.

🚲 Ready to try e-cycling? Pop down to Chiswick tomorrow for a free afternoon of cycling fun! All ages & abilities welcome. 📅 Tue 9 June, 1pm-5pm 📍 147 Chiswick High Rd, W4 2DT 🎟️ FREE entry

Poverty is a political choice. And we can choose a better way.

My cabinet colleagues and I spoke to Chiswick Calendar about our priorities for the next four years.

The unions refuse to be conned by Farage. Workers' rights are not safe in his hands.

Unless we defend the fundamental principle of equality, at all times, there will always be cynical politicians seeking to undo those hard won gains that protect everyones rights, everyone's jobs, everyone's pay, everyone's experience of civil society, for their own ends.

Lol

Next Saturday (13 June) the Dr Bike team will be offering FREE bicycle check-ups and repairs outside Chiswick Town Hall from 10am to 12pm. They will also be at Feltham Park on Tuesday (9 June) from 1-3pm. For more information, visit www.hounslow.gov.uk/transport-tr...

Battersea Park Comedy Festival just getting started yesterday. Fantastically funny afternoon with Tom Ballard, Lucy Beaumont and more. The non-profit team behind it, Enable, did a great job organising.